The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-08-27
LITTLE LILY.
Her Mysterious Disappea rance
and Her Recovery.

Uncle Abe, untidy in person from an
hours employment in the coal cellar,
yet, despite all, the very incarnation
of family dignity, rose from his resting
place by the area walk, and called af-
ter me, as ran up the steps: "Marse
Will! Dat bad mans done been here
agin, an he low he gwinter fotch
Lily wild him mex week"
1T is So" affirmed my wife, who
was waiting for me at the door, She
added in an undertone: II wish you'd
talk with Abe, and try to reconcile him
to the change"
Noah Peters, the "bad man." was to
Uncle Abe the embodiment of evil. To
all others, Peters seemed hard-work-
ing, mild-tempered, and mild-man-
nered negro; but his father-in-law-
that was the relation which my faith
full old colored friend held to him
was disposed to consider him an alto
gether worthless character. Nothing
could persuade Uncle Abe that Noah
was fitted to be any thing better in life
than a "botherationn to the unfortu-
nate persons whom fate made his asso-
ciates.
To be sure, when Noah and Eliza
were married, Uncle Abe witnessed
the ceremony and took part in the fes-
tivities. Later on, when the mother s
life went out when little Eliza was born,
he wept with his grief-stricken son-in-
law, and did his lest to help him bear
the burden. Both he and Aunt Della
opened their hearts to the motherless
babe, and the father and child were
made heartily welcome at the little
homestead which Uncle Abe had toiled
SO hard to gain.
For three years there was no break
in the ties of mutual esteem which
bound Uncle Abe to Noah. Then the
latter, delighted with the winsome ways
of his baby, proposed to her grandpar.
ents that he should employ house.
keeper and take the child to brig hten
his lonely home. Against this step the
old man vigorously protested; and find
ing that, though Noah did not press the
subject, he was still resolved on max.
ing the change, Abe's good opinion Of
his son-in-law gave place to something
like aversion.
He's de most obstinatest man | ebel
seed, " Uncle Abe complained, wher
the agitation first began "He cam
say muffin, only 'dat's my babyp HI
don hold no argument, only he comes
right back onto dati''
Several months elapsed after Noaf
first preached the suggestion which
was so coolly received, and he said lit
tie about the child's removal; but, a.
afterwards appeared, he did not abatc
his determination to possess her. Reg
ularly, on Sunday, Della said, he Wis
tied them, laden with candy for "hi
baby" and all of Abe's efforts during
the week did not avail to obliterat,
from the child's mind favorable i'm
preston of her father.
Now, it seemed, the crisis had come
Noah, having once decided to take littlt
Eliza to himself, would pursue his pur
pose with that unainching pertinacity
(which is sometimes the characteristic,
of "easy,going" men. 1t was just anC
right, knew, that he should hold hi
only near and dear one, yet feare,
the effect which the loss of their pc
would have upon her grandparents.
AS these thoughts crossed my mind
! descended the steps and wentto Uncl
Abe, who stood still in the attitude o
deep detection. The low seat Oh IA